Letter From Abducted Soldier Gilad Shalit

Shalit was kidnapped from his IDF post by Gaza militants in a cross-border raid two years ago. IDF Radio quoted from the letter: "I am in bad health; I dream of the day when I will return home. I hope to return soon and demand that the government not abandon me."

A one-page letter written by kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit to his parents was transferred to them on Monday. The letter from the kidnapped soldier was received by fax at the Carter Center in Ramallah on Sunday night, and was then transferred to the Shalit family in Israel.

The Carter Center has released the following statement: 'Representatives of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter delivered today a handwritten letter from Cpl. Gilad Shalit, held in Hamas captivity for two years, to his parents, Noam and Aviva. At their Damascus meeting in April Hamas leader Khaled Mashal committed to President Carter to transfer the letter, and it was received at the Carter Center's office in Ramallah on Sunday. President Carter and his staff will attempt to arrange for a return letter from Shalit's parents to their son and hope that an arrangement enabling Gilad Shalit's release will be reached soon.'

The letter released by Hamas from Shalit was the third Shalit has sent to his parents since his abduction in June 2006.

Recorded Message From Gilad Shalit

On June 25, 2007 Hamas released a recorded message from captured IDF soldier Corporal Gilad Shalit. The message was posted on the Web site of Hamas's military wing.

'I am the soldier Gilad, son of Noam Shalit, who was captured by Izz el-Din al-Qassam. Mom and Dad, sister and brother, my friends in the IDF - I send you my love and I miss you all. It has been a whole year in prison, and still my health is deteriorating. I am in need of prolonged hospitalization.

I am sorry for the Israeli government's and IDF's lack of interest in me and their rejection of the demands of Izz el-Din al-Qassam [the Hamas armed wing]. It is clear that they must accept their demands if they want me to be released from prison, especially since I was part of a military operation under military instruction and not a drug dealer.

And just as I have parents, a mother and a father, the Palestinian prisoners also have mothers and fathers - and their children must be returned to them. I have great confidence in my government that they will focus more on my issue and accept the demands of my captors. Corporal Gilad Shalit.'